“She said her name wasn’t Jane.”
“She happen to let you in on what it is?” Roan said.
“No. Just that she wasn’t a plain Jane.”
“What does that mean?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she spells her name with a Y. You know, J-a-y-n-e.”
Roan shrugged and sat down at his desk.
“Crazy subject talked to crazy ex-detective then returned to her mental Disneyland,” he said aloud as he typed.
“Piss off, Roan,” Saul said.
“How long are you sticking around?” Chuck said.
“I guess until she gets picked up.”
Roan leaned his head into a cupped palm, eyelids losing the fight to stay open.
“You finished with that paperwork?” Chuck said, tapping Roan’s shoulder.
“Yeah.”
“Go home, then. I’ll handle Social Services when they show up.”
“You sure? Could be a while.”
“Saul can baby-sit,” Chuck said. “Give us a chance to catch up.”
Roan took a quick swig of his coffee and unfurled himself. A brisk walk had him halfway across the room before he remembered to shout back his thanks. Saul relocated to the chair, trying not to stare at the woman. Her face had the smoothest texture he’d ever seen.
“Why did you say you’re here?” Chuck said.
Saul realized he was watching the woman a little too intently.
“My neighbor’s peace of mind,” he said.
“Uh-huh,” Chuck said, then yelled to the fresh-faced kid, waving him over.
“Former partner Saul, meet new guy Danny.”
Danny held his hand out to Saul.
“Heard a lot about you.”
“Yeah, I’ll bet,” Saul said, completing the handshake.
A uniformed man walked by and did a double take when he saw who was there.
“Hey, Becker, looking good. Glad to see you finally made it in to visit.”
“He wouldn’t bother with a visit, Walters.” Chuck clapped Saul a little too hard on the back. “He’s here on business.”
“Why don’t you stop by the joint after our shift? Stiles would love the brag time. He finally finished first in the target and combat pistol courses since you weren’t here to beat him.” Walters glanced at the clock. “Gotta run. Big day down at the lake—first Jane Doe here, now someone’s found mutilated squirrels.”
“Mutilated how?” Saul said.
“That’s what I’m on my way to find out.” Walters continued toward the door with a backhanded wave.
“Do you still shoot?” Danny asked.
“Does he still shoot?” Chuck said. “Saul not only still shoots every day, he still runs every day. Why, he probably runs to the firing range.”
Saul grimaced. He did in fact start each morning by running five miles to the firing range, taking target practice, then running back home.
“Hey, that was a good idea,” Chuck said. “Your coming by the bar tonight.”
Saul shrugged.
“I wasn’t just suggesting,” Chuck said.
The commander, new since Saul’s exodus, stuck his head out of his office and called to Chuck, who looked at the computer screen on Roan’s desk.
“Would you mind printing that report for me and closing out the system?”
“Sure,” Saul said. But before he printed, he made a few extra keystrokes.
The caseworker from Social Services arrived with a pair of size nine sneakers. After she’d put them on her new ward, she glanced at the paperwork.
“Jayne with a Y?”
“Don’t ask,” Saul said.
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Genre – Murder / Thriller
Rating – PG13 (some foul language, a few short love scenes)
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